Improvement in shoes



2Sheets--Sheetl. JOHN J. DROWN.

Shoes. N0.126,450, Patented May 7,1872.

Fig. 1.

W IT N E S S E S.

rz/i z rAMm I M177 INVENTOR.

2 Sheets- -Sheet 2. JOHN J. DROWN.

Shoes.

N0 126 450 Patented May 7,1872.

Fig.4.

WITNESSES. mama Q1 Q4, CK l 40m PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. DROWN, OF PLATTSBURG, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 126,450, dated May 7,1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JNO. J. DROWN, of Plattsburg, in the county ofClinton and State of New York, have invented a new and valuableImprovement in Shoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation ofthe same, reference being had to the'annexed drawing making a part ofthis specification and to the letters and figures of reference markedthereon.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a representation of a side elevation of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan-pattern view of the cloth. Fig. 3 is asectional view; and Fig. 4 is a view of the insole.

This invention has relation to a combined in-sole sock and slipper; andthe novelty consists in combining with an in-sole made of birch-bark orother water-proof material a footcovering of woolen cloth, which may beworn inside of the boot or shoe as a sock, and used as a slipper whenthe boot or shoe is removed, said cloth covering being out in one piece,sewed up to fit the foot, and provided with a tightening-strap,substantially as hereinafter described.

Iii the manufacture of my combined in-sole sock and slipper I use, bypreference, birchbark to produce awater-proof sole, A. I cover the underside of said sole with felt or oilcloth, A, allowing the edges toproject slightly to admit of the woolen covering being stitched thereto.To produce said covering I take a single piece of any suitable clothwhich will protect the foot, and cut it to the outline shown in Fig. 2of the drawing. The middle part of said cloth receives the sole, theends of which coincide with the rounded parts a a of the cloth, whichare formed, in cutting the cloth out, at b b. I out said cloth so thatthe parts E E on either side of the sole-part E shall, in outline,nearly conform to the profile of a gaiter. I then sew together the edgescc of the instep part, the edges g g of the heel, and the edges h h,respectively, to the edges a a. By this means a cloth shoe is produced.To the instep part I attach a strap, 1', of India-rubber cloth or Indiarubber, and fasten its ends to the heel-part, passing it across thecurved slits k. These slits allow of the covering being opened to letthe foot pass in easily, while the strap binds the covering to the ankleor to the upper part of the instep, over which there is no doubling orlapping. The exposed edges of the cloth should be bound.

This foot-covering is of great advantage to outdoor laborers who wearlarge coarse boots. Such persons are in the habit of wearing severalpairs of socks to fill up the boots and keep the feet dry and warm. Myimproved cover ings supply the place of said socks, and are even better,being provided with water-proof soles.

The coverings may be worn as slippers in- ..doors when the boots areremoved.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The foot-covering, consisting of a single piece of cloth, cut toproduce the wings E, having the edges 6 g h h and slit k, and thesolepart E having the curved ends a a, substantially as specified.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a cloth foot-covering, provided witha birch-bark insole, as and for the purpose specified.

3. The elastic strap 2', applied to the cloth foot-covering, having theside-slits k, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. DROWN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES R. KEMPTER, E. BROWN.

